Elizabeth Jacobs held part-time job after part-time job from the time she was 16.  But in 2006, with a one-year-old son at home, she made a decision to pursue—not a job—but a career.  Her husband had developed some health problems, and a slower than normal workload resulted in a reduction in his hours.  The part-time kitchen help she performed at an area school district was simply not enough to stabilize the family’s fluctuating finances.

“When I went to Pennsylvania CareerLink for help and the staff there told me there was a program through GICV that could help me go back to school, I was like, 'Wow'!” Elizabeth says.  Goodwill Industries® of the Conemaugh Valley (GICV) provides Career Services and Training to adults and dislocated workers through the Workforce Investment Act.  The program enabled Elizabeth to complete an 18-month course at Cambria-Rowe Business College where she trained as a medical office assistant.  Elizabeth graduated with honors in March 2009.

Determined to establish herself in a career with stability and room for advancement, Elizabeth researched and contacted a growing pharmaceutical services company in Indiana County.  Impressed by her initiative, the company granted Elizabeth an interview even though it had no openings.  Undeterred, Elizabeth wrote a heartfelt thank you note stating that she appreciated the company’s time and asked for consideration in the event that a position did open up.

“Within a week of the letter, I got a phone call.  They said they had an opening and wanted to hire me,” Elizabeth recalls.

Now approaching her one-year anniversary with the company, Elizabeth was selected as a recipient of a GICV 2009 Achievement Award in recognition of her hard work and determination.  “You can’t just come into a program like this and expect people to do it for you,” she explains.  “You have to work and do your part, too.”

Although Loretta’s first inclination was to retreat to her apartment...she opted instead to work with a Certified Peer Specialist from GIVC’s Peer Support Services in an effort to reintegrate into a new church community.

Loretta Knapp had been a member of St. Columba Church her entire life.  When she learned that the church would close as part of a consolidation of Roman Catholic churches in Johnstown’s Cambria City neighborhood, she was more than heartbroken—she was terrified.  Loretta lives with mental illness, and St. Columba had become a safe haven for her.

Although Loretta’s first inclination was to retreat to her apartment and watch the weekly televised mass from St. John Gaulbert Cathedral, she opted instead to work with a Certified Peer Specialist from Goodwill Industries® of the Conemaugh Valley’s (GIVC’s) Peer Support Services in an effort to reintegrate into a new church community.

“When I was introduced to June (Lowery), I said, ‘I hope you can help me.’ And June said, ‘Yes, I will help you,’” Loretta recalls.

In addition to being a Certified Peer Specialist, June Lowery is also a Catholic and a member of St. John’s Church.  She fully understood the importance of Loretta’s faith in her recovery and invited Loretta to attend Saturday evening masses with her.  Certified Peer Specialists are people in recovery from a mental illness and are trained to use their own experiences to help others in their recovery.

“People need a ray of hope.  They need to believe that they can, and when they see someone else who has done it, that gives them hope,” explains June.

Starting in July 2009, Loretta and June made plans every week to manage Loretta’s anxiety while in church.  Ten months later, Loretta not only attends mass at St. John’s, she also volunteers to stuff and stamp mailings for shut-ins every Friday at the church rectory.  “June just stayed with me and kept telling me, ‘everything is going to be okay, and you can do it, and I’ll be there for you,’” Loretta recounts.

As a GICV 2009 Achievement Award recipient, Loretta humbly admits she is proud of herself for her progress that she has made and is looking forward to becoming even more independent.

Dale's experience with GICV and working at the Altoona Goodwill store has enabled him to develop greater independence and set and reach goals in life.

Dale Murphy enjoys the good-natured banter among coworkers at Goodwill Industries® of the Conemaugh Valley’s (GICV’s) Altoona Goodwill store, particularly when it comes to football.

“Dale is not a Steelers fan, so he’ll come into work after the Steelers lose a game and tell everyone how his team is doing.  He likes to tease,” chuckles Sharon Richey, store manager.

Dale, 27 is a man of many interests.  He loves sports and gospel music, enjoys good food, and is a client-turned-employee of GICV.  Dale was born with Down Syndrome.  He came to GICV in 2002 for Transition to Work Services.  Two years later, he was hired as a production associate at the Altoona store and works an average of 20 hours per week.  He has since been able to price and display books and is preparing to learn a new, more high-tech book scanning system.

“Sharon’s going to teach me,” Dale relays excitedly about the impending challenge.

For his tremendous growth personally and on the job, Dale was named a GICV 2009 Achievement Award recipient.  Although Dale continues to reside with his parents, his experience with GICV and working at the Altoona Goodwill store has enabled him to develop greater independence and set and reach goals in life.

“Dale jumps in with both feet.  He doesn’t let anything stop him,” Sharon says.  “He has such a wonderful attitude.  If everyone could see through his eyes, what a world this would be.”

Becky Sossong

Becky continues to beat the odds from a severe traumatic brain injury that nearly claimed her life at 12...and  continues to master new skills at a paying job she has held at Walmart for two years, in large part due to on-the-job support from job coaches through GICV’s Community Employment Services. 

“Good morning,” Becky Sossong calls to customers entering the Walmart in Ebensburg.  “Have a wonderful day.” And why not?  Becky will.

At 23, standing on her own two feet and sporting a bright and cheerful smile for any and all she greets, Becky continues to beat the odds from a severe traumatic brain injury that nearly claimed her life at 12.  An ATV accident in the summer of 1999 thrust her into a coma.  She was unresponsive for months, and doctors gave her family little hope that Becky would survive.  At best, her mother Kim was told that her once athletic, outgoing daughter would never walk or talk again.  Amazingly, Becky proved everyone wrong

“Slowly but surely she kept progressing and overcame one hurdle after another.  She came home in a wheelchair and with a feeding tube.  Today, she can eat by herself.  She still wears a brace on one foot, but she talks like crazy—sometimes, too much,” Kim Sossong laughs.  “She’s come a long way." 

Honored as a GICV 2009 Achievement Award recipient, Becky continues to master new skills at a paying job she has held at Walmart for two years, in large part due to on-the-job support from job coaches through GICV’s Community Employment Services

“My role is to help her have a better job experience,” explains Katie Frantz, who has served as Becky’s job coach for the past 6 months.  “I prompt her as needed to keep the flow of customers moving.  When there are returns, I help her hold the scanner or pull off stickers.  In all reality, I don’t do all that much.  She does it all.

” Becky continues to undergo therapy.  She has permanent physical limitation, impaired speech, and struggles with periodic headaches.  Still, Becky’s outlook on life is nothing short of inspiring. Asked why helping people as a Walmart greeter makes her happy, Becky answers simply, “Because I’m alive.”

Bart held several jobs in different industries, but it wasn't until GICV set Bart up with a job-shadowing opportunity with Westwood Garden Haven...that Bart found his true calling.

In 1993, Barton L. Seltmann, Jr. was in a severe automobile accident that resulted in traumatic brain injury.  He received physical and cognitive rehabilitation services at Reading Rehabilitation Hospital, then subsequently enrolled at the Hiram G. Andrews Center and received a Medical Clerical diploma.  In the fall of 2004, Bart enrolled in Goodwill Industries® of the Conemaugh Valley, Inc.'s (GICV’s) Community Employment Services and completed Transitional Employment Training at the PA CareerLink®, Cambria County.  Bart held several jobs in different industries, but it wasn’t until GICV set Bart up with a job-shadowing opportunity with the Westwood Garden Haven in the spring of 2006 that Bart found his true calling. 

Bart performed so well in his job shadowing that owner Glenn Rosage hired Bart as a seasonal garden laborer.  Bart takes great pride in his work and has excellent attendance, using public transportation to get to and from his job with a nearly one-hour commute each way.  Bart feels that the nature of his job is suited to helping him to maintain his balance and gait, which were compromised following his accident.  Bart is proud of the fact that he maintains his own apartment, manages his finances, and accesses community resources independently. 

One day after devoting several weeks to weeding and organizing the perennial greenhouse, Bart was thrilled to find a hand-lettered sign that his manager placed on the greenhouse door that reads:  “This greenhouse professionally maintained by Bart.”  He was also given a T-shirt with his name monogrammed on the front.  Bart always felt valued, but this was tangible proof.  In the spring of 2009, Bart began his fourth season with the Westwood Garden Haven. 

GICV proudly presented Barton L. Seltmann, Jr. with a 2008 Achievement Award at its Annual Breakfast and Report the Community on May 21, 2009, attended by more than 125 members of the community.

With the guidance of GICV, Harry recognized an opportunity to turn an unfortunate situation into an aspiring one by pursuing the career he always wanted.

After becoming a dislocated worker from Freight Car America in March 2007, Harry A. Vatavuk didn’t know it, but he was about to fulfill his long-time goal of working in the healthcare field.  Upon graduation from high school, Harry wanted to pursue an education to become a nurse, but his father helped him to obtain a position working in the steel mills with high wages and excellent benefits.  It was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up at the time, but was in an industry that would later decrease its workforce.

When Harry visited the PA CareerLink®, Cambria County, Goodwill Industries® of the Conemaugh Valley, Inc. (GICV) enrolled him in the Trade and Workforce Invest Act (WIA) program upon learning of his aspiration of becoming a nurse.  Harry enrolled in the Greater Johnstown Career & Technology Center’s Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program and began classes in September 2007.  He utilized Supportive Services through the WIA for childcare assistance.

Harry successfully graduated from the program and on October 28, 2008, was offered full-time employment as an LPN at the Golden Living Center in Richland Township.  With a work attire implement allowance through the WIA, Harry was able to obtain the proper “scrubs” and shoes for his new job.  His GICV career counselors say that he is the perfect example of taking lemons and making lemonade.  With the guidance of GICV, Harry recognized an opportunity to turn an unfortunate situation into an aspiring one by pursuing the career he always wanted.  Harry secured full-time employment with Interim HealthCare, Johnstown working as an LPN in the Home Care Visits division.

GICV proudly presented Harry A. Vatavuk with a 2008 Achievement Award at its Annual Breakfast and Report the Community on May 21, 2009, attended by more than 125 members of the community.

Although Ron has a severe visual impairment, he maintains a positive attitude, and figures out how to do something rather than saying it cannot be done.

In the spring of 2008, Ronald B. Wetzel was referred to Goodwill Industries® of the Conemaugh Valley, Inc.'s (GICV’s) Community Employment Services paid training program for adults with disabilities by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation/Bureau of Blind and Visual Services.  Although Ron has a severe visual impairment, he maintains a positive attitude, and figures out how to do something rather than saying it cannot be done.  Ron began GICV’s paid training program in the production department at Goodwill’s Ebensburg Retail Store in December 2008 affixing price tags on clothing and merchandise in preparation for the sales floor.

Textured friction tape was applied to the floor to delineate boundaries.  A fellow associate assists Ron with resetting his pricing gun for each price point.  His coworkers monitor the work area to ensure that pathways remain unobstructed.  Ron is fluent in reading and “writing” Braille and personally labeled the presort bins with Braille markings.  He keeps his work schedule by using alarms on his cell phone and a tape recorder.  He’s also quite adept at using a computer and Window-Eyes^TM talking software.  Ron successfully completed his paid training and secured employment with GICV as a Production Associate in Goodwill’s Ebensburg Retail Store and new Richland Retail Store and Donation Center on Eisenhower Boulevard. 

Further proof of Ron’s “if there’s a will, there’s a way” attitude is the fact that he is a volunteer firefighter and Communications Officer and has served as Vice President/Radio Operator and Emergency Management Coordinator for different volunteer fire companies.  On August 8, 2007, Ron’s experience and training proved to be life-saving when he was instrumental in assisting residents to safely escape a serious apartment fire.  Ron was recognized for his efforts with Certificates of Valor from the Pennsylvania Senate, the House of Representatives, and five additional associations.  He was also named Firefighter and Member of the Year by the Spangler Volunteer Fire Company.

GICV proudly presented Ronald B. Wetzel with a 2008 Achievement Award at its Annual Breakfast and Report the Community on May 21, 2009, attended by more than 125 members of the community.